Arkwright Engineering Scholar | Charterhouse School

From idea to impact: Max (Fifth – Year 11) secures prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. 

When Max discovered he had been successful, his reaction was a mix of relief and pride.  As he explained, “I was relieved because I had spent a long time making the product and preparing for the interview. To finally find out I had been successful was a fantastic feeling.” He was also quick to acknowledge the encouragement that set him on this path: “I wouldn’t have even known about the award unless Mr Thompson, Head of Design Engineering, had told me to go for it.”

Central to Max's application was a thoughtful and highly practical design project, rooted in his interest in biomechanics. Wanting to address a real-world challenge, he focused on the difficulties faced by people with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, particularly around eating. “I wanted to think about what problems people face every day and how I could solve them,” he said. “Eating is something everyone should be able to do independently.”

His solution was to design and produce a customisable cutlery handle, created using 3D modelling and printing, which fits securely in the user’s hand. Incorporating a ball-bearing mechanism, the utensil is able to remain level even when the hand is affected by tremors, while also allowing the angle to be adjusted to compensate for limited wrist movement. 

This project formed part of a rigorous selection process. Applicants are required to submit a personal statement, evidence of their interests and experience, and also to complete an aptitude test covering mathematical and engineering principles, as well as a timed design challenge. Those who progress are then invited to interview, where they present their project and discuss its development and potential future improvements. 

Max's love for engineering began with making and building, but a particularly formative experience came during a school project in Fourths (Year 8). Inspired by debates around record-breaking marathon performances, he set out to investigate the role of running shoes in improving athletic times. After researching advances in shoe design, he modified a basic trainer, adding elements such as a carbon plate and enhanced materials, and evaluated the results himself. “I wanted to see what difference the shoes really made,” he explained. “After redesigning them, I was about 20 seconds faster over two kilometres.” It was a project that neatly captured his curiosity and his desire to test ideas in a practical, measurable way.

Alongside this, Max has pursued an interest in computing, learning programming languages such as Python and Java and creating his own games. This combination of practical making, analytical thinking, and curiosity about how things work has continued to shape his engineering approach.

On winning the Arkwright Scholarship, Max reflected: “It’s a big confidence boost. It demonstrates that the work you put in is actually leading somewhere.” Arkwright will also offer valuable support as Max looks towards applying to university, where he hopes to study biomedical engineering. A key element of the scholarship is the mentorship it provides, giving him access to guidance that will help him navigate the next steps of his academic and professional journey.

Max plans to continue refining his adaptive cutlery design and, with professional support, potentially develop it into a marketable product. At the same time, he is exploring new concepts, including a system that would allow amputees to control a computer mouse using muscle signals detected from the upper arm, an idea that reflects his ongoing commitment to designing technology that improves everyday life.

Throughout Max's journey, he has valued the support and encouragement from the Design Engineering department. “It’s the best part of the School,” he said. “The support is incredible. I’d come in every evening and there was always a teacher there to help.”